What were some critical observations from the eighth official practice at Washington Commanders' training camp leading into the 2023 season?
After the Washington Commanders were put through a grueling session on Wednesday, their eighth practice had a much more relaxed feel. Ron Rivera and his staff have been particularly intense in the opening stages of training camp, which is bringing about an added sense of urgency and improved commitment from top to bottom for good measure.
This is in keeping with the high stakes enveloping the franchise after the Commanders' sale to Josh Harris and his team of investors got the green light just a few short days before camp began. The new owners are giving Rivera a chance to prove his worth, but they'll have contingency plans in place if the respected figure cannot galvanize a franchise reborn.
For now, expectations and energy couldn't be higher. That said, here are four critical observations from practice session No. 8 at Commanders' training camp in 2023.
Commanders lightened the load
As previously stated, the Washington Commanders took things a little easier on Thursday. Ron Rivera and his coaches oversaw a session with a tempo slightly higher than walk-through pace, which allowed the players to brush up on the more technical aspects rather than focusing on physicality.
When asked about the decision to reel things back, Rivera stated via the team's website it's something he felt the players deserved after a hard week so far. And make no mistake, they were not complaining that's for sure.
"We had a really good week last week, then coming into this week, three hard days in a row, and we thought we'd back it off a little bit today in terms of the tempo."Ron Rivera via Commanders.com
This change of pace was no doubt welcomed by those within the locker room. However, it promises to be a fleeting relief with the pads going back on tomorrow.
Commanders dealt first major injury
It wasn't all fun and games for the Washington Commanders on Thursday. Some bad news came out of the organization with the first significant injury of training camp, which was extremely disappointing.
According to the team, defensive lineman David Bada tore his tricep muscle during Wednesday's practice. This is normally a complication that comes with significant rehabilitation attached, but much will depend on what emerges from the additional tests to determine its severity.
Bada had no college football experience before entering the league. His colorful route to the NFL was rewarded by the Commanders, who even activated the player for two games last season after impressing the coaching staff.
Things would appear to be more difficult for Bada this time around with Phidarian Mathis and Chase Young returning from injury on a stacked defensive front. He seemed pretty low down the pecking order all things considered, but nobody likes to see this sort of injury befall any player at this time of year.
The Commanders stashed Bada on injured/reserve soon after the announcement. There is also the option of releasing the player with an injury designation further down the line if a worst-case scenario emerges.
That might sound a little harsh, but the NFL is a cutthroat business.
Commanders QB Sam Howell in the groove
After a frantic week with the pads on, things were probably moving a lot slower for Sam Howell on Thursday. Of course, the Washington Commanders' formidable defense was still looking to make things difficult, but the quarterback got more time to work and rarely went up against the first string as Ron Rivera took the heat off his signal-caller.
This clearly relaxed Howell, who showcased his improved mechanics and arm talent to great effect according to those in attendance. The former fifth-round selection delivered notable highlights to Brian Robinson Jr., Jahan Dotson, and Dyami Brown, which was a good confidence boost even if things were quite going at full pace.
Howell is a laid-back character that's taken everything in his stride throughout an offseason where expectations increased exponentially. This session might seem inconsequential compared to others, but it's a big step in the right direction for the one-time North Carolina stud nonetheless.
There is no time for Howell to get complacent. Pads are going back on tomorrow and Eric Bieniemy's high standards are relentless - something that's reflected in the gunslinger feeling the heat from a conditioning standpoint late in recent practices.
That's not a great concern, to be honest. Howell knows being pushed at this juncture is going to help when competitive games begin, and having one day to air it out a little more without fear of many repercussions keeps the enthusiasm alive if nothing else.
Commanders see flashes from Marcus Kemp
Evaluating players in this type of practice is difficult. Everything is dimmed down in terms of tempo, but the Washington Commanders felt this sort of session was needed before things get more serious tomorrow and in the days leading up to their joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens.
One player did catch the eye according to those in attendance. It's hard not to notice Marcus Kemp at the best of times given his 6-foot-4 frame and wide wingspan, but the wide receiver made the highlight play of the session when latching onto a Jacoby Brissett deep ball for a superb gain.
Kemp is a close associate of Eric Bieniemy's from their time together on the Kansas City Chiefs. He's been integral in helping teammates understand the complex new system and is a tremendous asset to call upon on special teams, but that won't guarantee a roster spot when it's all said and done.
With Byron Pringle joining the ranks and Dyami Brown showing out heading into Year 3 of his professional career, Kemp has his work cut out making the team. Much will depend on how many wideouts the Commanders bring through, but making plays even in this sort of setting could make a big difference when the time for final evaluations arrives.
One could make a case for five of the wideout spots being locked in right now. That leaves one or two open for the rest, so Kemp's fate might come down to how he performs in a pressurized preseason setting.